People are the Worst

Happy Halloween!! In honor of the holiday, we have two Halloween-themed AITW stories, and the theme? A prank gone too far and was the boyfriend's girl BFF sending a message with her costume? Lets find out!
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In February 2000, 27-year-old Suzette Trouten packed up her belongings and moved from Michigan to Kansas City for a job opportunity. But just weeks after arriving, Suzette stopped calling. Her family continued receiving letters from her (even in her handwriting) but something wasn't adding up. As investigators did their thing, they uncovered a double life that lasted decades. And just when they thought had it all figured out, police and FBI made a discovery that would turn an entire family's world upside down.

Research Assistance: Molly McGuigan

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Sources for this episode:

Depraved: A True Story of a Sadistic Killer in the Heartland by John Glatt

Vanity Fair — Link

Crime Library

FBI: Criminal Pursuit

Very Scary People: The Slave Master, Parts 1 & 2

20/20: Sole Survivor

Cold Case Files: Sex, Lies & Murder

ABC News — Link 1 | Link 2 | Link 3

Lawrence Journal-World — Link

The Dark Side of Humanity — Link

LegalClarity — Link

Kansas Supreme Court — Link

MoreLaw — Link

Find a Grave
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On June 26, 2010, a woman walked into her friend Denise Merhi's house to get her car keys. The house was eerily quiet and when the woman called out, nobody answered. She found her keys, then found a horrific scene in the kitchen. After a very stressful few minutes, she then sees a shadow reflected on the wall. The killer was still in the house. What she didn't know was that the scene is much more horrific than she realized. It's what urban legends are made of: a mass murder and a message written on the wall in blood. Police knew Denise Merhi had been torn between two men: Michael Eric Ballard & Brian Miller. Did one of them do this?

Research Assistance: Jim Rowley

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In September 1993, Donna Palomba woke up to a masked intruder standing in her bedroom. What follows is a terrifying attack that leaves her fearing for her life and the safety of her two children. But when she turns to the police for help, the investigation takes an unimaginable turn and Donna's the one being questioned.

Years later, a shocking new crime brings investigators the break they've been waiting for, and nothing could prepare them for what they uncovered.

janedoenomore.org

Research Assistance: Jim Rowley

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-OSEA: Oseamalibu.com Use code THEWORST for 10% off your first order

-Quince: Quince.com/PATW for free shipping + 365-day returns

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-Shopify: Shopify.com/WORST for a $1/month trial

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In 2004, the decomposing body of a young woman was found at an abandoned house in Winnie, Texas. The woman didn't have any belongings with her: no phone, no ID, no wallet. The only clue as to who she is was a class ring on her finger. It indicated she graduated high school in 2003, making her roughly 19 years old. When they look inside the ring, they see a name inscribed: Courtney Coco. The only problem is: Courtney lived about 3 hours away in Alexandria, Louisiana and had no ties to Texas. How did she end up there? This would be the first of MANY bizarre discoveries and even though there are a ton of suspects, Courtney Coco's murder would go cold for 15 years until a badass named Woody Overton launches a podcast about it & solves it 7 weeks later...

Research Assistance: Jim Rowley

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Sponsors:

-Goodles: Goodles.com Available at Target, Walmart, and other retailers

-OSEA: Oseamalibu.com Use code THEWORST for 10% off your first order

-Quince: Quince.com/PATW for free shipping + 365-day returns

-Ruggable: Ruggable.com Use code PATW for 10% off your first order

-Shopify: Shopify.com/WORST for a $1/month trial

-TaskRabbit: Taskrabbit.com Use code THEWORST for $15 off your first task

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